NORTHEAST WIS. – In a June 23 interview on Oprah’s podcast, author Rachel Louise Snyder — whose bestselling book “No Visible Bruises” reshaped how Americans understand domestic violence — argued that the term itself falls short: what is being experienced is intimate terrorism.
The episode explored the risk factors for homicide and the hard truth that, for many women, the most dangerous place is inside their own home.
“Oprah’s podcast reaches tens of millions of people. Many of them will hear Rachel Snyder’s words and recognize someone they love. Some will recognize themselves,” said Courtney Olson, executive director of Rainbow House.
“We want those people to know that help exists, and that it is closer than you think, right here in Marinette and Oconto counties.”
Rainbow House shared that for too long, communities have treated domestic violence homicide as a tragedy no one could have seen coming. Yet again and again, before a woman was killed, she had contact with police, courts, advocates and health care providers, people who never had the chance to connect the dots.
The truth is painful, but it is also hopeful — many domestic violence homicides are preceded by recognizable warning signs, including threats to kill, strangulation, stalking, access to firearms and violence that escalates after a victim tries to leave. When communities are trained to recognize those signs and respond together, outcomes can change.
That is why Rainbow House, local law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, and probation and parole made the decision to strengthen, together, how the region responds to the most dangerous domestic violence cases.
Through the local Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams, those agencies now sit at the same table and ask the same questions about each dangerous case: What is the risk? What can we do, together, right now?
Referrals are based on the Lethality Assessment Program 2.0, an evidence-based screening model developed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. When a responding officer identifies a victim as high-risk, the victim is connected with a Rainbow House advocate on the spot for safety planning and support, rather than being left to find help alone.
Since launching this coordinated response in 2019, Marinette and Oconto Counties have completed more than 1,000 lethality screens, connected more than 470 survivors directly to advocacy services and identified more than 250 cases involving strangulation, one of the strongest predictors of domestic violence homicide.
In one recent case, a survivor’s lethality screen scored 22 out of 26, placing her at the highest level of danger. When her case was staffed at a High-Risk Team meeting, the team provided her with security cameras, a personal alarm, personal supplies and ensured the district attorney’s office had accurate and current contact information. Law enforcement was also able to document her internal and external injuries and obtain the medical release needed for her reconstructive surgery.
“We know this work saves lives. But it is not easy,” Olson said.
“It requires every part of the system to acknowledge that no single agency can prevent domestic violence homicide alone. It requires humility, training and political will, and it requires investment in the tools, protocols and infrastructure communities need to act early and act together.”
Rainbow House is proud to serve as the statewide trainer for the Lethality Assessment in Wisconsin, helping communities across the state put this lifesaving tool into practice. More information is available at www.wisconsinlap.org.
Marinette and Oconto counties are proud to be part of a growing national movement that believes the worst outcomes of domestic violence are not inevitable. They are predictable. They are preventable. And they demand a coordinated response.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, Rainbow House offers free, confidential help. Call the toll-free 24-hour crisis line at (800) 956-6656. In an emergency, call 911.
About Rainbow House
Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services provides free, confidential support, advocacy and emergency shelter to those affected by domestic violence in Marinette, Oconto and Florence counties, with co-advocacy in neighboring Menominee County, Michigan. Learn more at www.therainbowhouse.us.
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